Bosnia-Herzegovina ready to resume

Bosnia-Herzegovina's Premier League resumes on 1 March, and top-flight clubs have been preparing in the sun of Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey ahead of next weekend's warm-up fixtures, after what has been a quiet winter break.

English signing
The big news was the arrival of the first English player in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Neil Wood, who started as a junior in Manchester United FC and later played for R. Antwerp FC, Peterborough United FC, Burnley FC, Coventry City FC, Blackpool FC and Oldham Athletic FC, has signed for mid-table NK Željezničar. The 25-year-old has been at their training camp at Herceg Novi in Montenegro, preparing for a possible debut against NK Žepče.

Modriča ahead
FK Modriča currently lead the way, one of only six clubs to be starting the second part of the season with the same coach as they first. Even one of that sextet, FK Sarajevo's Husref Musemić, was suspended for a month by his club with the champions currently lying seventh, eleven points adrift of Modriča. NK Široki Brijeg are four points behind Modriča, who visit third-placed Čelik on 1 March. Modriča coach Slaviša Božičić said: "We are well prepared to stay top. We have a four-point advantage but it's going to be very hard, because everyone wants to beat the leaders."

Cup quarter-finals
However, Modriča will not be in the running for the double as they failed to make the Bosnia-Herzegovnian Cup quarter-finals, played on 5 and 19 March. In an all top-flight lineup, capital rivals Željeznicar and Sarajevo are paired, while NK Posušje face FK Laktaši, FK Sloboda Tuzla play FK Leotar and NK Zrinjski take on holders Široki Brijeg.